Making Room For a Fitness “Explosion,” This University Center Doubled in Size

Fitness is bigger than ever, according to David Rigsby, director of athletics at Willamette University. “There is a continued explosion in this country around fitness,” Rigsby explains. “We have seen an increase in students using the Sparks Center, and in general we have about 1,000 unique visitors to the facility per week.” Recently this surge of interest required Willamette University to double the size of its Sparks Fitness Center.

Willamette University is home to a very active student body, with approximately 450 student athletes, 19 varsity sports teams and 90 percent of students using the Sparks Fitness Center on campus before graduating. Working within the building’s existing footprint, Rigsby and his project team increased the area of the fitness center to approximately 9,000 square feet. The sustainable properties of nora® floor coverings played an important role, as the university anticipates receiving LEED certification for the Sparks Center.

“A fitness center has several different uses over the course of the day, so finding materials that can respond to the diversity of use was important,” Rigsby said. “I think [nora flooring] stood out as a product that has broad use – it’s used in hospitals and facilities all over the place. So, the floor has a proven track record in durability and performance.”